Chilling apparatus



Feb. 22, 1938. I v. E. KROFT ET AL 2,109,135

CHILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l QRTHUFL L B- U. EKFLOFT.

JNVENTORS.

A TTORNEY Feb. 2 2, 1938. v, E KROFT ET AL 2,109,135

CHILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 U. E.K R.0FT.

' INVENTOR-S.

A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATEN' OFFICE Newark, N.

J., assignors to Carbondale Ma'- chine Corporation, Harrison, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 5, 1937, Serial No..12 i,190.

, 14 Claims.

This invention relates to heat interchangers.

and more specifically to an apparatus for chilling distillates to separate out, for congelation, parafiin wax or the like. This type of apparatus 5 customarily includes one or more series of hori-- zontally disposed pipes arranged at difierent levels through which the material to be chilled is circulated. 'The chilling action in these pipes is provided by a volatile refrigerant which is circulated through jackets or evaporator chambers surrounding said pipes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure which will insure the delivery of the proper amount of refrigerant to the jackets or evaporator chambers without the need of 'a refrigerant circulating pump and its necessary appendages, and also a system which is selfregulating.

More specifically the present invention relates to means for controlling the delivery of liquid refrigerant to the cooling jackets or evaporator chambers, and is an improvement over the chilling apparatus disclosed in the co-pending application Serial Number 725,889 filed May 16, 1934.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the

invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a chilling apparatus of the preferred form embodying the invention,

and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved chilling apparatus having parts thereof broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan of the chilling apparatus showing parts in section, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the chilling apparatus taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a modified form of the chilling" apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved chilling apparatus comprises a plu- 'ralityo f pipes l arranged in vertically spaced,

tiers, through which the liquid to be chilled circulates.

one tier are connected to the pipes in the tier next therebelow by suitable elbows 3 so as to provide a continuous pathfor the circulation of the liquid to be cooled.

The pipes in each tier are connected by suitable connecting elbows 2 while the pipes in Refrigerant jackets i are disposed about the pipes I, and form evaporator chambers 5 through which a suitable liquid refrigerant, preferably a volatile liquid refrigerant is circulated for chilling the liquid circulating through the pipes l. 5

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, a distributor l0 is provided for controlling the distribution of the volatile liquid refrigerant to the various evaporator chambers 5. The distributor l0 is shown in the form of a vertical standpipe and it has a plurality of partitions ll therein which correspond to the various vertical tiers of the evaporator chambers. The partitions H are located slightly below the lowermost part of the respective tiers of evaporator sections and form pockets in the distributor an which areindividual to each tier of evaporator chambers.

The volatile refrigerant is supplied from any suitable source (not shown) v through a supply pipe 2 to the accumulator I4. The accumulator l4 is-mounted at the top of the distributor Ill and opens the reinto so that the liquid refrigerant delivered to the accumulator l4 may pass downwardly into the distributor l0.

Each of the pockets in the distributor l0 formed by the various partitions ll is connected by suitable pipes l5 to the evaporator chambers in the corresponding tier.

Pipes 5 extend through the partitions H, extending a predetermined distance above and below the partitions and form means of communication between the respective pockets whereby it will be necessary for the liquid refrigerant to rise above the tops of these overflow pipes before any liquid refrigerant will be supplied to the pocket next' therebelow. The overflow pipes [6 project upwardly into the pockets a predetermined distance for regulating the height of the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator chambers 5. The overflow pipes project downwardly into the distributor pocket next therebelow, below the upper end of the overflow pipes for the respective pockets. Y 1 y The overflow pipes H; are of'such height that there will always be left a gas pocket as indicated at I] in the uppermost portions of the evaporator chambersi and these overflow pockets are connected by pipes 18 to the respective pockets in the distributor above the tops of the overflow pipes IS. The evaporated liquid refrigerant thus passes from the evaporator sections 5 throughv the pipes l8 into the distributor pockets and passes from one distributor pocket, through a gas outlet pipe or tube 19 into the next pocketthereabove and thence onwardly through the 'series of pockets into the accumulator ll. Any.

condensation of the gaseous or evaporated liquid refrigerantwill pass or fall downwardly into the respective pockets or from the accumulator l4 into the top pocket. A suitable gas take-oil as indicated at may be, provided.

{The supply of liquid refrigerant to the accumulator l4 and consequently to the distributor I II is controlled by the level of the liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tier of evaporating chambers 5 by a float mechanism2l of any approved type which in turn controls the valve 22. The float mechanism 2| includes the condenser 23 which is connected by the pipe 24 to the bottom of the distributor l0 and is placed so that the level of the'liquid refrigerant within the tank 23 will be level with the level of liquid refrigerant in the evaporator chambers 5 of the lowermost tier. Since the evaporator chambers 5 in the lowermost tier are the last to receive the liquid refrigerant, and the float structure 2i is arranged so as to open-the. valve 22 until such time as the level of the liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tier of evaporator sections reaches the desired height, the chilling apparatus will be self-regulated and the quantity of liquid refrigerant delivered thereto will be controlled by the actual needs of the apparatus.

Figure 4 of the drawings shows a modified "form of the invention and. in this modified form the distributor 30 is of suillcient size so that its upper end indicated at 3| may serve the purpose of the accumulator and it has a suitable gas takeoff pipe 32 connected thereto. The liquid refrigerant is delivered into the top of the distributor 30 through the supply pipe 33 from any suitable source (not shown). The delivery of liquid refrigerant to the distributor 30 is controlled by a valve 34 which in turn is operated by a float mechanism 35. The float mechanism 35 is connected by a suitable pipe 36 with the bottom of the distributor 30 anditis located so that the level of the liquid refrigerant in the float structure 35 will always be in the same plane as the level of the liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tier of the evaporator chambersi'.

The distributor 30 has a plurality of partitions 36 therein arranged one above the other and extending outwardly and upwardly into the distributor-at an angle to provide a plurality ofsuperimposed pockets 31, the uppermost of which is located inwardly and directly below the inlet for liquid refrigerant into the distributor 30 from the pipe 33. As the liquid refrigerant accumulates in the uppermost pocket 34, it will spill over the upper edge of the uppermost parts 36 into the'pocket 31 therebelow. The various pockets are connected by supply pipes 36 to the various evaporator chambers 5' in the respective tiers.

-'Gas off-take pipes 39 extend from the evaporator chambers 5' into the distributor and extend across Y the upper edges of the respective partitions 36. The partitions 36 extend only partly across the interior of the distributor 30, leaving a spue or passage indicated at 40 through which the evaporated-refrigerant may pass into the top of the distributor 30.

The distributor 30 is placed atan angle to the vertical so as to insure the spilling or overflow of the liquidrefrigerant from one pocket 31 into the pocket next therebelow and also so'that any condensation of the evaporated liquid refrigerant will fall in the various pockets.

1; will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructionor arrangement of parts shown but that they may be modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said refrigerant chambers,

and means in said distributor individual to each of refrigerant in the evaporator chambers, said means comprising overflow means controlling the delivery of liquid refrigerant from one of said individual means to the one next therebelow.

3. In a chilling apparatus, a conduitfor conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for'delivering liquid refrigerant to said refrigerant chambers, means in said distributor individual to each tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the level of refrigerant in the evaporator chambers, and means controlled by the level of liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the delivery of refrigerant to said distributor.

4. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically.spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said refrigerant chambers, means in said distributor individual to each tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the level of refrigerant in the evaporator chambers, and an accumulator at the top of said distributor and open in serially connected supe posed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid reto the interior of the distributor for receiving frigerant to said refrigerant chambers, and means in said distributor individual to each tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the. level of refrigerant in the evaporator chambers, the interior of said distributor provided with gas escape passages to permit gaseous refrigerant to pass to the top of the distributor.

6. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said-refrigerant chambers, means in said distributor individual to each tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the level of refrigerant in the evaporator chambers, means controlled by the level of liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the delivery of refrigerant to said distributor.

7. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said refrigerant chambers, means in said distributor individual to each tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the level of refrigerant in the evaporator chambers, and an accumulator at the top of said distributor and open to the interior of the distributor for receiving gaseous refrigerant'therefrom, the interior of said distributor provided with gas escape passages to permit vaporized refrigerant to pass to the top of the distributor.

-8.-In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said evaporator chambers, vertically spaced partitions in said distributor forming a liquid refrigerant containing pocket for each tier of evaporator chambers, connections between said pockets and chambers for delivering liquid refrigerant to said chambers whereby the level of liquid refrigerant in said pockets will control the level of liquid refrigerant in said evaporator chambers.

9. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said evaporator chambers, vertically spaced partitions in said distributor forming a liquid refrigerant containing pocket for each tier of evaporator chambers, connections between said pockets and chambers for delivering liquid refrigerant to said chambers whereby the level of liquid refrigerant in said pockets will control the level of liquid refrigerant in said evaporator chambers, and gas escape pipes opening from said chambers into said distributor, the

interior of said distributor provided with gas escape passages to permit vaporized refrigerant to pass to the top of the distributor.

10. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality ofvertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said evaporator chambers, vertically spaced partitions in said-distributor forming a liquid refrigerant containing pocket for each tier of evaporator chambers, connections between said pockets and chambers for delivering liquid refrigerant to said chambers whereby the level of liquid refrigerant in said pockets will control the level of liquid refrigerant 'in said evaporator chambers, gas escape pipes opening from said chambers into said distributor, the interior of said distributor provided with gas escape passages to permit vaporized refrigerant to pass to the top of the distributor, and means controlled by the level of liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the delivery of refrigerant to said distributor.

11. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a pluralty of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said evaporator chambers, vertically spaced partitions in said distributor forming a liquid refrigerant containing pocket for each tier of evaporator chambers, overflow pipes carried by said partitions for controlling the level of refrigerant in said pockets andwhereby refrigerant will pass successively from one pocket to the pocket next therebelow.

12. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said evaporator chambers, vertically spaced partitions in said distributor forming a liquid refrigerant containing pocket for each tier of evaporator chambers, overflow pipes carried by said partitions for controlling the level of refrigerant in said pockets and whereby refrigerant will pass successively from one pocket to the pocket next therebelow, an accumulator at the top of said distributor and open to the'interior of the distributor for receiving vaporized refrigerant therefrom.

13. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid -to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said evaporator chambers, vertically spaced partitions in said distributor forming a liquid refrigerant containing pocket for each. tier of evaporator chambers, overflow pipes carried by said partitions for controlling the level of refrigerant in said pockets and whereby refrigerant will pass successively from one pocket to the pocket next therebelow, an accumulator at the top of said distributor and open to the interior of the distributor for receiving vaporized refrigerant therefrom, and gas escape pipes carried by said partitions and opening from one chamber into the chamber next thereabove whereby vaporizing refrigerant may pass through the distributor to said accumulator.

14. In a chilling apparatus, a conduit for conducting liquid to be treated comprising a plurality of vertically spaced pipe sections arranged in serially connected superposed tiers, evaporator jackets individual to said horizontal pipe sections and forming evaporator chambers about the pipe sections, a distributor for delivering liquid refrigerant to said evaporator chambers, vertically spaced partitions in said distributor forming a liquid refrigerant containing pocket for each tier of evaporator chambers, overflow pipes carried by said partitions for controlling the level of refrigerant in said pockets and whereby refrigerant will pass successively from one pocket to the pocket next therebelow, an' accumulator at the top of said distributor and open to the interior of the distributor for receiving vaporized refrigerant therefrom, gas escape pipes carried by said partitions and opening from one chamber into the chamber next thereabove whereby vaporizing refrigerant may pass through the distributor to said accumulator, and means controlled by the level of liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tier of evaporator chambers for controlling the delivery of refrigerant to said distributor.

I VERNEY E. KROFT.

ARTHUR ROE. 

